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Upfront Notebook

Updated May 15, 2006 11:59 p.m. ET

NBC kicked off the so-called upfront ad-selling period, when media buyers make roughly $9 billion in ad commitments for the fall TV season. Here are some quick takes on NBC's presentation at Radio City Music Hall, from staff reporters Joe Flint and Brooks Barnes.

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No Joke: Usually when networks announce their fall schedules to advertisers in the so-called upfront presentations, the emphasis is on glitzy stars and cheesy skits with executives poking fun at themselves. Afterward, advertisers are wooed...